Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 23
Focus: Psalm 23:1
“The Lord is my shepherd.”
I am not sure where this came from, but I suspect you will be blessed by it as I was.
The Lord is my Shepherd—That’s Relationship!
I shall not want—That’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures—That’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters—That’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul—That’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness—That’s Guidance!
For His name sake—That’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—That’s Testing!
I will fear no evil—That’s Protection!
For Thou art with me—That’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me—That’s Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies—That’s Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil—That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over—That’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—That’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord—That’s Security!
Forever—That’s Eternity!
It’s no mistake that Psalm 23 is sandwiched between two Messianic Psalms. Psalm 22 foretells the cross of Christ, and Psalm 24 speaks of a time when Messiah rules the earth in justice and righteousness. This strategic placement is fitting since it’s between Christ’s cross and Christ’s second coming, between our salvation and heaven, that we find ourselves facing life in all its rawness: The ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the joys and sorrows, the life and death that make up the human condition.
And even though this pastoral setting and shepherd-sheep analogy are foreign to our modern culture, isn’t there just something about this Shepherd’s Psalm that resonates in our core? That’s because we’ve discovered we’re pretty much like sheep—dense, directionless and defenseless—and we cannot do life without the Good Shepherd.
You need a shepherd—so do I. In Jesus, that’s what I’ve got. And that’s all I want!
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“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.” (Martin Luther)
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